 When you add a dog to your family, whether they are a puppy or a rehomed adult, it is a very exciting time for a household. It can be tempting to involve them immediately in every single adventure, showing them off to every single person (who wouldn’t?). But there are things we really need to consider when bringing a new family member into the home. For the interest of this blog piece, we are going to look at what it’s like to bring an older puppy or an adult dog into your home through rescue, because with puppies there are a few things like vaccinations and development that make the circumstances a little different from each other. Some of these points however, you can keep in mind if you have got a puppy! LET'S BEGIN Imagine being uplifted from everything you had known, with people you had never met, or only met once or twice before. You go to a completely new location, with new smells, textures, sounds - everything. The routine at the shelter was regimented. Food, walks, and social interactions were all on a pretty strict schedule, and now that’s all completely changed. When it seems like your new dog is a little bit on edge, or is showing behaviours that aren’t what you expected, don’t go immediately back to the rescue, or think it's the dog's fault! We want to talk to you about a rule of 3 you can keep in mind. 3 DAYS This is the period of time where your dog needs to decompress. There should be no expectations in this period, just relationship building, calmness, and learning about each other. Introducing every aunty, friend, and neighbour to your dog will only serve to increase the stress that comes with a big change. You won't even be sure if your dog is super social or not! They may be a homebody, who will end up being completely happy with their immediate family, and that is all. Street walks, and big adventures to other new places, are definitely a thing to avoid. The world is big and scary, and it’s highly likely that your dog isn’t one hundred percent sure that they can trust you to keep them safe. And if you are expecting lead manners, or focus, or sitting at the curb, your dog will feel like they’re drowning in new rules and won’t be able to cope. 3 WEEKS At three weeks you may see a shift in your dog’s personality. They may start being more confident, goofy, and you will start to see their likes and dislikes. This is because your dog is starting to feel like they have a bit of routine - this really could be their forever home after all! Their guard is down, and they are starting to feel comfortable. This can come with some behaviours that may seem worrisome. Because your new dog is starting to trust you, they are starting to communicate - and if they have been uncomfortable or nervous about anything in the environment, they may start feeling brave enough to show it. Your dog is assessing their environment, and it’s not truly reflective of who they really are - think of it as a teething period, but for new behaviours! And we won't even go into if your new puppy is going through adolescent stages - that's a blog for later... Examples of behaviours that can show when your dog is starting to feel at home are vocalising at strangers in the home, or perhaps at dogs they seemed ‘fine’ with before on walks (we have a blog post explaining why fine is sometimes… not fine!). A nervous dog who was hanging around you at the start may be brave enough to start doing their own thing, so their recall might be worse (not that we recommend outside time without a long line). This can be a bit unnerving, but don’t lose hope. Don't take your dog back to the rescue! You can start to see some desirable behaviours, such as:
You may consider getting some support through a dog trainer who uses positive training methods, so that you can understand why your new family member is acting in this way. The behaviours you see are not a true image of how your dog is, just yet, so you may need to learn how to manage anything undesireable, and teach your pooch more appropriate ways of expressing their feelings. 3 MONTHS The three month mark is a time frame we estimate for your pup to feel at home. The routine is set, the family is familiar and your dog really gets a feeling of security. They trust you, and your bond with them is solidifying. It is now you will see your dog for who they are, and the behaviours you will see in them will be more transparent and honest to their character. It seems like three months is a long time, but remember, this may be at the shorter end of the spectrum, too! When I moved house with my nervous dog, Charlie (while she has been with me since a pup), it took eight months for her to really get back to her ‘normal’ self after the change. These timelines, just like our dog’s, their backgrounds and their personalities, are all unique - and the journey is something we have to recognise as individual and special. We can’t rush these things. Start by understanding that and going at your dog’s pace, whether it is fast, or slow. It will mean your bond will be strong and your dog will forever trust you to do the best by them. As horse trainer Pat Parelli says: Take the time it takes, so it takes less time. Authored by Sarah Endres
Dog Trainer and Behaviour Advisor
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